Waukegan cancels July 4 fireworks

For the first time in years, Waukegan won’t stage a fireworks show on Independence Day.

The City Council this week approved an annual spending plan that cut funding for the show, which usually is held on July 4 at the lakefront.

The show usually costs $25,000, plus an additional $10,000 to $15,000 for municipal services such as police, fire and public works operations, city spokesman David Motley said.

Last year’s show cost $15,000, Motley said.

With the city laying off staffers and in well-publicized financial straits, any cost-cutting measure helps, Motley said.

“That was identified as (money) that could be saved,” he added.

Motley has worked for the city in various capacities since the 1990s and couldn’t remember an Independence Day that didn’t include fireworks.